NATO chief "Until South Korean delegation visits, North Korea cannot be confirmed"

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutter said a South Korean delegation to share information on North Korea's dispatch of troops to Russia will visit early next week.

Asked about it at a press conference in Tallinn, Estonia, on the afternoon of the 22nd local time, Secretary-General Rutter said, "In a phone call with President Yoon Suk Yeol, I asked for an expert to brief the North Atlantic Council, the NAC, and the president said of course he would," adding, "It will happen early next week."

"Then we will see if North Korea is actually supporting Russia's illegal war," he continued.

"If it is true to send troops, this is a very significant escalation of tension," Rutter said. "Until we receive an update from the South Korean side, we cannot confirm it at this time."

The NAC is a decision-making body attended by resident representatives of NATO member states.

According to the president's office, Yoon said he would quickly send a delegation to share information at the request of Secretary-General Rutter.

In this regard, a senior presidential official explained, "Our intelligence agency and a small number of defense officials will form a team to visit and consult with the NATO secretariat."